US State Dept Travel Advisories for Mexico: A Comprehensive Guide for Safe Travel

Mexico, a vibrant country known for its rich culture, stunning beaches, and historical sites, attracts millions of tourists every year. However, like any international destination, it’s essential to be informed about safety and security. The U.S. State Department provides travel advisories to help U.S. citizens make informed decisions about traveling abroad. This guide focuses on understanding and utilizing Us State Dept Travel Advisories for Mexico, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable trip.

The U.S. State Department’s travel advisory system offers levels of advice ranging from “Exercise Normal Precautions” to “Do Not Travel.” These advisories are based on a careful assessment of safety and security conditions in different countries and regions. For Mexico, the advisories are particularly detailed, often varying significantly between states due to diverse safety landscapes.

Understanding the Levels of US State Dept Travel Advisories

Before delving into state-specific advisories for Mexico, it’s crucial to understand the four advisory levels:

• Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions: This is the lowest advisory level. It suggests that while there are some risks in the country, they are generally no higher than what you would experience in your own country. Standard safety practices are usually sufficient.
• Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution: This level indicates that there are heightened risks to safety and security. Travelers should be more vigilant, aware of their surroundings, and take extra precautions.
• Level 3 – Reconsider Travel: This is a serious warning level. It means that the State Department advises travelers to reconsider their plans to travel to the country or specific areas within it due to significant safety and security risks.
• Level 4 – Do Not Travel: This is the highest advisory level. It is issued when the risk to safety and security is extremely high. The State Department strongly advises against traveling to these countries or regions. In many cases, the U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance to U.S. citizens in these areas.

General Safety Concerns in Mexico

Across Mexico, the U.S. State Department highlights violent crime as a primary concern. This includes homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, which are reported to be widespread and common. It’s important to note that the ability of the U.S. government to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens can be limited in many parts of Mexico, especially as travel for U.S. government employees is often restricted to certain areas. In many states, local emergency services are also limited outside of major cities.

U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico are strongly advised to adhere to any restrictions placed on U.S. government employee travel, as these restrictions are put in place for safety reasons. General precautions recommended by the State Department for safe travel in Mexico include:

• Avoiding travel between cities after dark.
• Not hailing taxis on the street; instead, using dispatched vehicles or regulated taxi stands.
• Avoiding traveling alone, particularly in remote areas.
• Not driving from the U.S.-Mexico border to the interior of Mexico, with limited exceptions for daytime travel in certain Baja California areas and specific highway corridors.

State-by-State Mexico Travel Advisories

The following is a breakdown of the US State Department travel advisories for each state in Mexico. Please note that these advisories can change, and it is crucial to check the official US State Department website for the most up-to-date information before planning any travel.

States to Exercise Increased Caution In:

Many states in Mexico fall under the “Exercise Increased Caution” advisory. This means travelers should be more aware of their surroundings and take extra safety measures. These states include:

• Aguascalientes: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout the state. There are no specific travel restrictions for U.S. government employees in Aguascalientes.
• Baja California Sur: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Similar to Aguascalientes, criminal activity and violence are concerns across the state. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Coahuila: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Violent crime and gang activity are present in parts of Coahuila. U.S. government employees are restricted from traveling to the municipalities of Zaragoza, Morelos, Allende, Nava, Jimenez, Villa Union, Guerrero, and Hidalgo. They also face a midnight to 6:00 a.m. curfew in Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuña.
• Durango: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Parts of Durango state experience violent crime and gang activity. U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling west and south of Federal Highway 45.
• Hidalgo: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence can occur throughout Hidalgo. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico): Exercise increased caution due to crime. Both violent and non-violent crime are concerns in Mexico City. Travelers should be especially cautious at night and outside of tourist areas. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Mexico State (Estado de Mexico): Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping. Both violent and non-violent crime are prevalent. Kidnapping is a concern. Exercise caution outside tourist areas. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Nayarit: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout Nayarit. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Nuevo Leon: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence are potential issues throughout the state. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Oaxaca: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence are present across the state. U.S. government employees are restricted from the Isthmus region and Federal Highway 200 northwest of Pinotepa. However, tourist areas like Oaxaca City, Monte Alban, Puerto Escondido, and Huatulco are not under restriction.
• Puebla: Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping. Criminal activity and violence are concerns, and kidnapping is a risk. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Queretaro: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout Queretaro. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Quintana Roo: Exercise increased caution due to crime. This popular tourist state, home to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, experiences criminal activity and violence, including gang-related shootings that have injured bystanders. Increased caution is advised, particularly after dark in tourist zones. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• San Luis Potosi: Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping. Criminal activity, violence, and kidnapping are concerns. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Tabasco: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout Tabasco. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Tlaxcala: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Criminal activity and violence are potential issues. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Veracruz: Exercise increased caution due to crime. Violent crime and gang activity are increasing, particularly in central and southern Veracruz. Roadblocks requiring payment are also common. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.

States to Reconsider Travel To:

“Reconsider Travel” advisories indicate a higher level of risk. Travelers should carefully weigh the necessity of travel to these states. These states include:

• Baja California: Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping. Transnational criminal organizations operate in Baja California, especially in the border region, leading to high levels of violent crime and gang activity. Tijuana is of particular concern due to homicides. U.S. government employees face restrictions in the Mexicali Valley area. Tourist areas like Tijuana, Ensenada, and Rosarito are still within the “Reconsider Travel” advisory.
• Chiapas: Reconsider travel due to crime. Criminal activity and violence are concerns throughout Chiapas. U.S. government employees are restricted from traveling to the municipality of Ocozocoautla and specific southeastern regions.
• Chihuahua: Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime and gang activity are common. Ciudad Juarez is particularly dangerous. U.S. government employee travel is limited to specific areas within major cities and certain highways. Copper Canyon and other areas are off-limits for U.S. government employees.
• Guanajuato: Reconsider travel due to crime. Gang violence, often related to fuel theft, is prevalent, especially in the south and central areas. High murder rates due to cartel violence are a major concern. U.S. government employees are restricted from areas south of Federal Highway 45D, including Celaya, Salamanca, and Irapuato. Tourist areas like San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato City are within the “Reconsider Travel” advisory.
• Jalisco: Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime and gang activity are common. Guadalajara sees territorial battles between criminal groups. U.S. government employees are restricted from the Jalisco-Michoacan border region and Federal Highway 110, as well as Federal Highway 80 south of Cocula. Popular tourist destinations like Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Ajijic fall under this advisory level.
• Morelos: Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Morelos. Kidnapping is a risk. No specific travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Sonora: Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping. Sonora is a key area for drug and human trafficking, leading to widespread violent crime. Travelers should be highly aware of their surroundings throughout Sonora. U.S. government employees face numerous travel restrictions, especially regarding transportation methods and areas near the U.S. border and in eastern and southern Sonora. Tourist areas like Hermosillo, Bahia de Kino, and Puerto Penasco are within the “Reconsider Travel” advisory.

States to Do Not Travel To:

The “Do Not Travel” advisory is the most severe, indicating extreme danger. These states are:

• Colima: Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime and gang activity are widespread. Bystanders have been injured or killed in shootings. U.S. government employee travel is limited to tourist and port areas of Manzanillo and requires using Federal Toll Road 54D during daylight hours when traveling from Guadalajara. All other areas are off-limits for U.S. government employees, and tourists are strongly advised against travel.
• Guerrero: Do not travel due to crime. Crime and violence are widespread. Armed groups operate independently, setting up roadblocks and potentially using violence against travelers. U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling to any area in Guerrero, including major tourist destinations like Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Taxco, and Ixtapa. Tourists are strongly advised to avoid travel to Guerrero.
• Michoacan: Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. Crime and violence are widespread. U.S. government employee travel is extremely limited, mainly to Federal Highway 15D for transit, Morelia (by air or specific highways), and Lazaro Cardenas (by air only, limited to city center/port areas). The Monarch Butterfly Reserve portions in Michoacan are off-limits. Tourists are strongly advised to avoid travel to Michoacan.
• Sinaloa: Do not travel due to crime. Violent crime is widespread, with criminal organizations based and operating in Sinaloa. U.S. government employee travel is restricted to Mazatlan (by air/sea, limited to Zona Dorada and historic center), and Los Mochis and Topolobampo (by air/sea, limited to city/port). All other areas are off-limits for U.S. government employees, and tourists are strongly advised against travel.
• Tamaulipas: Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. Organized crime is rampant, with gun battles, murder, robbery, kidnapping, and extortion common, especially along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria. Criminal groups target buses and private vehicles. U.S. government employee travel is severely restricted to limited areas around U.S. consulates in Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo, with curfews and highway travel restrictions. Tourists are strongly advised to avoid travel to Tamaulipas.
• Zacatecas: Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are widespread. U.S. government employee travel is limited to Zacatecas City proper (by air only). All other areas are off-limits for U.S. government employees, and tourists are strongly advised against travel.

States with Normal Precautions:

Only two states currently are under the “Exercise Normal Precautions” advisory, indicating they are considered the safest for travel in Mexico according to the US State Department:

• Campeche: Exercise normal precautions. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees.
• Yucatan: Exercise normal precautions. No travel restrictions for U.S. government employees. This includes popular tourist areas like Chichen Itza, Merida, Uxmal, and Valladolid.

Staying Informed and Safe

US State Dept travel advisories are an essential tool for planning safe travel to Mexico. However, advisories are dynamic and can change based on evolving conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to:

• Regularly check the US State Department website: Before and during your trip, monitor travel.state.gov for the latest advisories and updates.
• Enroll in STEP: The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) allows you to register your trip with the U.S. embassy or consulate in your destination, making it easier to locate you in an emergency and receive important alerts. Enroll at step.state.gov.
• Inform others of your plans: Keep family and friends updated on your itinerary. Share your GPS location if separating from your group and send taxi details to a friend if traveling alone.
• Use toll roads and avoid night driving: When possible, opt for safer toll roads and avoid driving alone or at night, particularly outside major cities.
• Be cautious in public places: Exercise increased caution in bars, nightclubs, and casinos. Avoid displaying wealth, and be vigilant at banks and ATMs.
• Prepare for emergencies: Have a contingency plan for emergency situations and review the Traveler’s Checklist on the State Department website.
• Follow health guidelines: Consult the CDC page for the latest travel health information.

By staying informed about US State Dept travel advisories and taking appropriate precautions, travelers can navigate Mexico more safely and enjoy the many wonders this country has to offer. Remember, responsible travel involves being aware, prepared, and respectful of local conditions and safety guidelines.